Berkeley County Detention Center. Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. BCSO. Avery Richard Smith. Christopher Dozier III. Frankie Levar Snider.
Crime & Courts

Three Deputies Arrested During Sexual Misconduct Investigation

Criminal investigation reveals years of assault, intimidation in Lowcountry detention center.

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Three deputies of the Berkeley County Detention Center stand accused of felonious misconduct following allegations of sexual assault, according to probable cause affidavits provided by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

On Thursday, June 17, 2024, SLED arrested Avery Richard Smith, 23, on one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of misconduct in office, three counts of first-degree assault and battery and five counts of third-degree assault and battery.

According to Berkley County Sheriff S. Duane Lewis, SLED agents were requested to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct after Avery was accused of assaulting a female detainee of the Hill-Finklea Detention Center on or about Saturday, June 8, 2024.

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“[Avery] did willfully, unlawfully and feloniously offer to help the victim with her arrest charge by offering to speak with the arresting officer,” alleged investigators in a probable cause affidavit. “He forcefully kissed her and grabbed her hands, putting her hands on his genital area.”

Within days of launching their investigation, state investigators found evidence of sexual misconduct committed as early as Avery’s employment in September 2022. According to SLED, witness statements and surveillance video corroborate these allegations.

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‘WILLFULLY, UNLAWFULLY AND FELONIOUSLY …’

Former Detention Deputy Avery Richard Smith.

“We assisted with any and all of SLED’s requests,” wrote Sheriff Lewis in a statement on Thursday. “We work hard every day earning the trust and confidence of our citizens and those employees who work for us. I hope this does not impede the trust the public has with us.” 

Sworn documents furthermore accuse Avery of groping and sexually coercing multiple female coworkers. His confrontations are said to have escalated after Sheriff Lewis awarded him the prestigious 2023 Detention Deputy of the Year award in January 2024. 

“[Avery] did willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously coerce the victim to have vaginal and oral sex with [him] while inside the detention center,” wrote investigators regarding an incident in April 2024. “[Avery] was the victim’s training officer at the time of the assault.”

Come Wednesday, June 19, 2024, the embattled son of Berkley County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Lieutenant Damien Smith resigned from Hill-Finklea Detention Center amid pending criminal charges, according to documents provided by the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA).

The following afternoon, direct supervisors Christoper Dozier III, 43, and Frankie Levar Snider, 45, were terminated for failing to intervene as Avery assaulted two female employees three weeks earlier, according to SCCJA and SLED records.

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‘A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW …’

Berkeley County Detention Center. Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. BCSO. Avery Richard Smith. Christopher Dozier III. Frankie Levar Snider.
Former Lieutenant Frankie Levar Snider; Former Sergeant Christopher Dozier III.

“[Christopher] witnessed the assault take place and proceeded to laugh and joke,” alleged one of thirteen arrest warrants signed by county Magistrate Martin Housand. “[Avery] was involved in another assault … the victim of the assault came to [Christopher] and [Christopher] failed to act again.”

Consequently, SLED charged Christopher, the brother of former BCSO Deputy Ronitto Dozier, and Snider, the senior pastor of a church in Northwoods Mall, with two counts of misconduct in office. They were booked into the Hill-Finklea Detention Center on Thursday.

“No one is above the law — including law enforcement,” continued Sheriff Lewis. “I want to recognize the hard-working men and women of the Sheriff’s Office and the Detention Center. Our Internal Affairs unit will work to ensure a comprehensive review of this incident.”

Dozier and Snider have since posted $30,000 personal recognizance (PR) bonds set by Magistrate Housand. As of this publication, Avery remains incarcerated as eight of his 11 charges remain without bail rulings. 

According to SLED Spokesperson Renée Wunderlich, the state’s investigation into sexual misconduct at Hill-Finklea Detention Center remains ongoing.

This story may be updated.

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THE AFFIDAVITS …

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Andrew Fancher. Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County. North Carolina. FEMA. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Roy Cooper.
Andrew Fancher in Mitchell County, N.C.
(Dynal Nolan/FITSNews)

Andrew Fancher is a Lone Star Emmy award-winning journalist from Dallas, Texas. Cut from a bloodline of outlaws and lawmen alike, he was the first of his family to graduate college which was accomplished with honors. Got a story idea or news tip for Andy? Email him directly and connect with him socially across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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5 comments

Jeff Mattox Top fan June 28, 2024 at 6:47 pm

The story of a system given a monopoly on force continues. Power is an attractant to all sorts of vermin. Corruption, sexual assault, coercion, theft, and bribery always follows power.
The state must create a façade of legitimacy and trust to cover the inherent problems that come with a monopoly on force.
This is what “We” call a civilized society where a mafia masquerades as a benevolent protector of Liberty.

Reply
Nancy Bryson Top fan June 29, 2024 at 7:45 am

Read the Hill-Finklea Detention Center mission statement. If Avery Richard Smith is convicted of the charges, all of the women detainees ought to be released, no matter what they are in for. And financially compensated. Disgusting.

Reply
Anonymous July 3, 2024 at 6:35 pm

The pendulum should not swing that far in the other direction. Would you release Susan Smith if she had been sexually-assaulted by Avery Richard Smith?
The immediate answers are to COMPLETELY separate punitive detentions for minor misdemeanors from pre-trial detentions of the presumed-innocent BUT possibly-guilty.
Also, there is no constitutional basis for counties (which are not sovereigns) to own or operate any incarceration facility. That fearsome power should belong to the ONLY TWO constitutionally-recognized sovereigns: the federal government and the state government.

Reply
Anonymous July 3, 2024 at 6:37 pm

The pendulum should not swing that far in the other direction. Would you release Susan Smith if she had hypothetically been assaulted by Avery Richard Smith?

Reply
Dum Spiro Spero Top fan June 29, 2024 at 9:28 am

Put these ex-law enforcement officers accused of sexual assault in amongst the general prison population in the state, and they will find out what assault is all about.

Reply

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